When

Hawaiʻi Island police have initiated a coroner’s inquest case in connection with the death of a diver Thursday (December 12), in waters off Kona.

At 7:12 p.m., Fire Department personnel responded to Honokōhau Harbor for a report of an unresponsive man who was diving off the Kona Coast.

A 55-year-old man identified as James Uihlein of Fallbrook, California, had been scuba diving off a commercial dive boat when he became unresponsive. After returning to shore, Fire Department rescue personnel took him to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:27 p.m.

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a likely drowning in Kona over the weekend.

Shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday (December 29), Kona Patrol Officers responded to the end of OTEC road in Kailua-Kona to a report of a body floating in the ocean.

A 40-year-old Kailua-Kona man, who had been swimming in an area of high surf, was floating face down in the water and appeared unresponsive. Fire Department personnel pulled him from the water, attempted life-saving measures, and took him to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A Canadian man apparently drowned Wednesday morning (April 11) in waters off Kailua-Kona.

The victim has been identified as 49-year-old William Savage of Okotoks in the Canadian province of Alberta.

At 11:20 a.m., Kona patrol officers responded to Kona Community Hospital, where they learned that Savage had been part of a scuba diving tour in waters north of Honokōhau.

A large surge reportedly knocked him off some rocks and into the water. When he failed to surface, tour members pulled him onto the boat , began CPR and took him to Honokōhau Harbor. From there, fire/rescue personnel took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:23 a.m.